True and False Cocolia

"Cocolia against Cocolia?"

Those watching this bizarre scene were mostly stunned, save for one person—or rather, a non-human entity: Mr. Svarog.

Many who had originally intended to rush forward to help stopped in their tracks.

They glanced at Jing Yan standing to the side.

Jing Yan's expression remained calm, betraying nothing.

And so, everyone present tacitly ceased their movements, focusing instead on the battle between the "Shadow of Cocolia" and the Cocolia suspended in mid-air.

"Hmph!"

Cocolia let out a soft huff, saying nothing more.

She naturally knew that this was not real.

Even if this creation looked exactly like her.

But that no longer mattered, for she had already decided to abandon such mortal trickery and, under the influence of the Stellaron, merge with the Fragmentum to become a different kind of Fragmentum creature.

Thus, after a brief internal adjustment, she raised her Frost Twin-Blade Spear and hurled it at the "Shadow of Cocolia" before her.

"Can this thing actually work?"

March 7th spoke up from the side.

"You're the one controlling this thing, right? Is it..."

"It's not exactly me controlling it; I merely determined its hostile target. Its inherent abilities are still those of Cocolia, as imprinted by the Fragmentum," Jing Yan replied.

"Doesn't that make this just like those legendary electronic cricket fights?" March 7th mused.

Stelle, hearing her remark, wore a slightly speechless expression.

Because they were still on the battlefield, March 7th's casual comment seemed to be dampening morale.

However, it did not affect the battle raging overhead.

The Shadow of Cocolia and Cocolia were already locked in combat.

Two ice spears hovered behind the Shadow of Cocolia, continuously firing ice shards at the Cocolia in front of it.

Cocolia, seemingly too lazy to spar with this imitation of herself, summoned several Fragmentum Creatures directly.

But immediately after, Cocolia realized something was wrong.

The Fragmentum Creatures she had summoned using the power of the Stellaron suddenly changed their forms the moment they appeared.

They shifted from their original state into something else entirely.

Cocolia was caught off guard by this turn of events.

Up until now, the root and starting point of all her decisions had been her trust in the Stellaron; she believed the Stellaron could grant her wishes.

Just as the Stellaron had once granted the wishes of the first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand.

Ever since she first touched the Stellaron as a child, she had heard its seductive whispers.

Over time, she had become convinced.

She believed that the entity capable of bringing the Frost Wave to Belobog could also grant the people of Belobog a new life.

As long as she desired and prayed with all her heart, she could make the Stellaron do such things for her.

In other words, the root of everything lay in the power of the Stellaron.

Unfortunately, under the counter-pressure of Jing Yan's Aeon-level power of "Eros," the Fragmentum Creatures Cocolia controlled via the Stellaron instantly switched masters.

They launched a "counter-attack" that left Cocolia in disbelief.

Furthermore, what surprised her even more was the significant change in the forms of these Fragmentum Creatures. Although she did not know how it was done, from the expressions of the enemies below, Cocolia was certain that the person responsible was Jing Yan.

He possessed a strange and unique power that could strip her of her control over the Fragmentum Creatures.

Even if the power emanating from Jing Yan's body did not seem as vast or surging as the power she hoped to obtain—the power of the Stellaron—it was mysterious and one-of-a-kind.

It was actually immune to her influence.

That was truly terrifying.

Thus, in an instant, Cocolia made her decision: to focus her spirit on dealing with the imposter before her.

The Shadow of Cocolia.

Only by completely eliminating it could she find the means to deal with the rest.

The attacks from the Shadow of Cocolia were fierce; every move and stance was just like the real Cocolia.

After she caught a spear made of frost elements, the Shadow of Cocolia's expression remained unchanged, and it proceeded to unleash even more attacks, manifesting powers and techniques that did not originally belong to Cocolia.

A layer of special divine power seemed to coat its gold and silver armor, blocking the intrusion of her own power.

At this moment, Cocolia finally decided to stop holding back.

She truly awakened the Stellaron and merged herself with it.

A moment later, her form underwent an unprecedented and massive transformation.

Her image was no longer that of the "merciful" and majestic blonde Supreme Guardian.

Instead, she had transformed into the likeness of a Fragmentum Creature.

At this moment, her skin was no longer visible; her entire body had taken on the color of the stars, surrounded by a shroud of ice.

Her original golden hair had grown long enough to drag on the ground, transitioning from deep blue to a creamy, pale blue.

She stood suspended in mid-air, with four ice spears hovering behind her.

Her legs and chest were encased in icy armor.

Though, it would be more accurate to call it ornamentation rather than armor.

Yet, she now resembled something akin to a queen of monsters.

Two pillars of ice stood nearby, shaped like stars, crosses, or perhaps diamonds.

The aura radiating from her body spread outward.

Those below grew grave and cautious.

"Listen, the power surges within me, singing!"

Cocolia spoke in her original voice.

Even though her face had become a deep, impenetrable void.

It was as if she were composed of energy resembling the backdrop of the cosmos.

The cold wind served as her accompaniment.

The ice shards became even more unstoppable, the power of the frost bending to her will.

The Shadow of Cocolia before her gradually lost the strength to hold its ground under this onslaught.

It was pinned directly into the air by the spears of ice.

At the "wounds" torn open by the ice spears, no blood flowed from within the armor of the Shadow of Cocolia; there were only blurred, flickering images, dimming and brightening.

This served as proof that it was not the true Cocolia.

However, its form remained that of Cocolia.

As for the true Cocolia, her original appearance could no longer be discerned.

Only her silhouette, her domineering presence, and her voice remained to inform others of her identity.

Amidst the biting wind, the group realized the extent of her power, and Stelle was the first to charge forward.

Stelle sprinted up the massive frame of the Engine of Creation, while the others cleared the obstacles in her path.

Down below, Jing Yan alone remained unmoved.

Seeing this, March 7th asked with a hint of confusion, "Jing Yan, aren't you worried?"